Picture frame assembly

ABSTRACT

A picture frame assembly that includes a frame that surrounds an opening and a fragrance media that is partially disposed in the opening of the frame. A display member that provides an image is disposed within the opening in the frame and the fragrance media diffuses a predetermined fragrance passively to allow multiple senses to be stimulated during the viewing of the image.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a picture frame assembly. More specifically,the present invention relates to a picture frame assembly that diffusesa fragrance.

Pictures frames have been around for many years allowing individuals toplace their favorite pictures, artwork, or images on display for othersto see. Typically, a matte is disposed within the picture frame andsurrounds the perimeter of the image in order to provide a moreaesthetically pleasing appearance. The matte may be of a selected colorso that the colors of the image and surroundings may be properlypresented.

As technology has evolved, new ways of presenting images in pictureframes has similarly evolved. For instance, digital picture frames havebeen manufactured that may be connected to a memory card so that imagestaken with a digital camera may be displayed on a screen within thepicture frame.

While these advances have helped present an image in different mediaassociated with a picture frame, there is a need to appeal toindividual's other senses so that the experience of viewing an image ismore realistic. In addition, this extra sensory component needs to beprovided in such a way that the image and picture frame itself remainaesthetically pleasing and have interchangeable parts so that the frameassembly may be used in multiple applications.

Thus, a principal object of the present invention is to provide apicture frame assembly that enhances sensory perception of an image.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a picture frameassembly that presents interchangeable parts that facilitates assemblyand disassembly.

These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparentfrom the specification and claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A picture frame assembly that has a frame that surrounds an opening. Afragrance media is partially disposed within the opening of the frameand a display member that provides an image is disposed within theopening of the frame such that the fragrance media surrounds the image.The fragrance media diffuses a predetermined fragrance. A transparentlayer such as glass is placed between the display member and fragrancemedia within the opening of the frame to provide protection of theimage. A support member can then be placed within the frame engaging thedisplay member to provide additional support to the assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a picture frame assembly;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a picture frame assembly;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a picture frame assembly;

FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of a picture frame assembly;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a picture frame assembly;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a picture frame assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The figures show a picture frame assembly 10 having a frame 12. Theframe 12 can be made of any material such as wood, plastic, metal or thelike. In addition, the frame 12 can be a digital picture frame as shownin FIG. 5. The frame 12 can have any type of aesthetically pleasingdesign without falling outside the scope of this disclosure. In a firstembodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-4 frame 12 has an inner wall 14 that hasa slot 16 disposed therein. One side of the slot 16 is defined by aflange 18 that extends from the inner wall. The inner wall 14 surroundsan opening 20 wherein the flange 18 can extend any length into theopening 20 as long as slot 16 is formed within the inner wall 14.

A fragrance media 22 extends into the opening 20 of the frame. Thefragrance media 22 is made of a material that is able to passivelydiffuse predetermined fragrances. In one embodiment the predeterminedfragrance is associated with the image and is embedded in the fragrancemedia for gradual diffusion. Fragrances can include, but are not limitedto a scent of a flower, a favorite cologne or perfume of a love one, andthe like. While in this embodiment a fragrance media 22 is used toprovide the fragrance, other fragrance delivery systems could be usedsuch as a fan unit, heat or heat in combination with a fan unit in orderto disperse the fragrance. In addition, the fragrance media 22 can beany color and is detachably secured within the frame 12 so that thefragrance media 22 can be interchanged with other fragrance media 22that present different colors, different fragrances or a replacementfragrance media if a fragrance has become undetectable.

In the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-4 the fragrance media 22 is amatte that is slidably received within the slot 18 of the inner wall 14of the frame 12. The fragrance media 22 is of any size and shape thatmay form a perimeter around an opening 24 as long the fragrance media 22is able to be attached to the frame 12. While the fragrance media 22 ofFIGS. 1-4 has an opening 24 that is surrounded by a perimeter 26 that isformed of a plurality of curved shapes, this perimeter 26 may be astraight edge as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 5-6 or any other shapethat may be considered aesthetically pleasing to a viewer withoutfalling outside the scope of this disclosure.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-6 the fragrance media 22 can be aninsert that has protuberances 27 a that extend from the insert and arereceived by openings 27 b in the frame 12 such that the fragrance media22 snaps into place. In this embodiment the slot of the frame 12 can beeliminated. In any embodiment the insert can be made of plastic, vinyl,wood, compressed paper/fabric, synthetic and natural, or the like. Also,while a slidable connection and snap connection have been describedother detachable connections such as Velcro®, adhesion methods and thelike are contemplated to provide the detachable connection.

The picture frame assembly 10 optionally has a transparent member 28that is disposed within the opening 20 of frame 12. Specifically, thetransparent member 28 engages the flange 16 of the inner wall 14 offrame 12 so that the transparent member 28 is in parallel spacedrelation or non-contacting relation with the fragrance media 22. In apreferred embodiment, the transparent member 28 is a glass panel.

A display member 30 provides an image 32 within the opening 20 of theframe 12. The display member 30 may be a digital display, a picture, acanvas or the like wherein an image 30, such as a digital image,picture, artwork or the like can be displayed. In the embodiment where atransparent member 28 is used, the display member 30 engages thetransparent member 28 such that the transparent member 28 separates andis disposed between the display member 30 and the fragrance media 22.

A support member 34 can also be provided to and engage the back of thedisplay member 30 and secured within the frame 12. The support member 30can present a stand-like support such as shown in FIG. 4 or may presenta back to be hung onto a wall or the like.

In operation, when an individual has a display member such as a piece ofartwork or a picture of a loved one that they would like to display, thedisplay member 30 may be secured within the frame 12. At this point intime, a user may choose a fragrance media 22 that best suits the desiresof the user. Specifically, the user can choose a fragrance media 22 ofany color, shape or design and additionally may use any scent orfragrance desired. For example, if the image 32 presented on the displaymember 28 is a flower, the user may choose to use a fragrance media thathas the particular fragrance of that flower. Alternatively, if the image32 is that of a loved one, the fragrance media could have a fragrance ofa favorite cologne or perfume of the loved one. Thus, when an observersees the image, not only is the image aesthetically pleasing butadditionally because the observer senses the predetermined fragranceassociated with the image 32 that is diffused by the fragrance media 22an additional sense is stimulated making the viewing of the image morelife like and real.

Thus, presented is a picture frame assembly 12 that utilizes a passivefragrance media diffuser. The frame 12 has a detachable connectiontherein so that the fragrance media 22 can be placed in front of thetransparent member 28 or glass panel and into the picture frame 12allowing for interchangeable designs and various fragrances to beutilized with the frame 12. This fragrance media 22 may be applied withnot only traditional picture frames, but additionally to digital pictureframes and art frames. The system allows for an interchangeablefragrance media and art design to be featured prominently on a pictureframe 12. Fragrance is diffused in a number of manners such as passivelythrough the fragrance media 22. Thus, presented is an interchangeableframe assembly that allows greater versatility and use of color andfragrance associated with an image than presently utilized pictureframes. Consequently, at the very least all the stated objectives havebeen met.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variousmodifications could be made to the device without the parting from thespirit and scope of this invention. All such modifications and changesfall within the scope of the claims and are intended to be coveredthereby.

1. A picture frame assembly comprising: a frame having an inner wallsurrounding an opening; a fragrance media partially disposed in theopening of the frame; a display member that provides an image disposedwithin opening of the frame; wherein the fragrance media diffuses apredetermined fragrance; and wherein the fragrance media is detachablyreceived within an inner wall of a frame such that the fragrance mediaextends into the opening surrounded by the inner wall of the frame suchthat a perimeter of the fragrance media surrounds the image.
 2. Theassembly of claim 1 wherein the frame is a digital picture frame.
 3. Theassembly of claim 1 wherein the display member is a screen of a digitalpicture frame.
 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the display member isa picture.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the display member is acanvas and the image art work.
 6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein theframe has an inner wall with a slot that receives the fragrance media inspaced relation to the display member.
 7. The assembly of claim 6further comprising a transparent member engaging the frame and disposedbetween the fragrance media and the display member.
 8. The assembly ofclaim 7 wherein the inner wall of the frame has a flange that is engagedby the transparent member.
 9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein thetransparent member is a glass panel.
 10. The assembly of claim 7 whereina support member is disposed within the frame and engaging the displaymember.
 11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the fragrance media isdetachably connected to the frame.
 12. The assembly of claim 1 whereinthe fragrance media is an insert.
 13. The assembly of claim 12 whereinthe insert has a protuberance that snaps into an opening in the frame toprovide a detachable connection between insert and the frame.
 14. Theassembly of claim 1 wherein the predetermined fragrance is associatedwith the image.